3D continuous emission and spiral transmission scanning for high-throughput whole-body PET

In order to achieve high-throughput whole-body PET studies, we have developed 3D continuous emission and spiral transmission (CEST) scanning for a newly developed PET scanner: SET-3000G/X. In this method, the patient couch moves continuously through the emission and dedicated transmission scanners separated axially by a lead shield. Transmission single data are acquired with a rotating ¹³⁷Cs point source as spiral fan-beam data with emission singles contamination correction. These data are sequentially rebinned and reconstructed to estimate 3D attenuation table for 511 keV photons. Emission 3D coincidence data are acquired in histogram mode with on-the-fly attenuation correction and Fourier rebinning at each axial sampling. Attenuation corrected 3D emission images can then be obtained in a single continuous bed movement. The CEST acquisition has the potential of reducing whole body acquisition times significantly while improving the data processing efficiency